SPD accepting old prescription drugs today
SANDPOINT — If you have leftover drugs from an old prescription sitting in your medicine cabinet, the Sandpoint Police Department will take them off your hands.
The police department is among those participating in the 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day today, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Drug Enforcement Agency began the initiative in 2010 to provide easy, anonymous opportunities to properly dispose of medications that are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse, and theft.
This year, local law enforcement and prevention partners have organized 38 Take Back Day collection site events across Idaho to provide their communities with accessible and convenient opportunities to drop off their unused or expired prescriptions.
Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez Jr. wants to ensure that Idahoans are aware how to rid their homes of unused and unwanted medications.
“Prescription medications often end up in the wrong hands, fueling an epidemic that kills more Americans than car accidents,” said Gonzalez. “DEA is providing an actionable way for our communities to step up and help combat this crisis by simply cleaning out their medicine cabinet.”
Nearly 10 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers in 2019, including 60,000 Idahoans ages 12 and older, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, according to a press release from the DEA. Additionally, results from the 2019 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior and Idaho Healthy Youth Surveys found that nearly 23% of Idaho 12th graders reported that they had misused a prescription drug one or more times in their life. While a majority of youth did not report misusing prescription drugs, of those that did, over 41% took or received them from a family member or friend, and over 60% misused the medication in their own home, DEA officials said in the release.
Unfortunately, substance misuse and drug overdose deaths have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that over 87,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. in the 12 months ending in September 2020 – the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period.
The detrimental impacts of COVID-19 make it even more critical that we remove unused medications from our homes – where they can find their way into the wrong hands. The Idaho Office of Drug Policy appreciates the efforts of Take Back Day event organizers across the state; and encourages Idahoans to take advantage of this opportunity to help prevent drug misuse and improve the health and safety of our communities.
When left in a medicine cabinet, thrown away or flushed, unused prescriptions can be dangerous to people, animals, or the environment. Help keep our state safe and healthy by dropping off your old medication on Saturday, April 24th.
Information: www.deatakeback.com